Train dispatching system for railroads



Sept. 22, 1931. R. M. PHINNEY 1,824,169

I TRAIN DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Filed July 26. 1929 TTORNEY INVENTO Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT M. PHINNEY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL RAILWAY SIGNAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK TRAIN DISPATCHING SYSTEM FOR RAILROADS Application filed July 26,

This invention relates to train dispatching systems of the synchronous selector type, and more particularly to means for transmitting indications from distant way stations to the dispatchers oflice.

In order to transmit a plurality of distinctive indications from a distant way station to a local dispatchers ofiice over the same channel of a synchronous selector dispatching system, it is found expedient to apply a direct current polarity to a message channel at a distant way station, so that at least two indications can be given depending on the polarity of such direct current source. From this it readily appears that a separate source of current is required at each way station for transmitting such indications from the way stations to the dispatchers office. In order to economize in these direct current sources of potential, or batteries, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention to combine the voltage applied at such distant way station with a voltage located in the dispatchers oflice, as a result of which the voltage of the direct current source at the way stations need only be half as high as would otherwise be required to get the same current flow.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of the invention will in part appear from the accompanying drawings and will in part be pointed out in the specification hereinafter.

In describing the invention in detail referonce will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which the apparatus in the dotted rectangle represents the apparatus in the dispatchers ofiice, and the remaining apparatus represents that located at a distant way station.

The invention, as shown, in the drawings has been shown applied to a synchronous selector system of the rotating arm type, such as shown in the application filed by'R. C.

Leake, Ser. No. 321,186, filed November 22, 1928, to which reference may be had for further information as to how the rotating arms A and A are rotatedin synchronism. For the purpose of the present application we will assume that the rotatable arms A and A 1929. Serial No. 381,288.

are continually rotated in synchronism, by suitable means not forming a part of the present invention. These arms simultaneously engage corresponding stationary contacts, of which the contacts for the arm A have been designated 13, 14, 15, and 16, and the station ary contacts for the arm A have been designated 13 14 15 and 16 The portion of the railway system shown includes track'rails 1, divided by insulating joints 2 into track sections, of which the track section shown is provided with the usual closed track circuit including a track battery 3 and a track relay T. In the dispatchers oflice, conventionally shown by the dotted rectangle D0, is located indicating lamp I, which if illuminated manifests occupancy of the track circuit including the track relay T. This indicating lamp I is controlled by the indicating relay IR, which relay is one of the direct current polar locking type. This relay IR is operated to a position depending on the polarity of the current flowing therethrough, and remains in such position until energized by direct current of reverse polarity. The dispatchers ofiice also includes neutral relays R and R the function of which is more readily described in the operation of the system.

Operation-In order to get a more clear understanding of the operating characteristics of the system, let us observe the message circuit which is momentarily closed when the contacts A and A engage the stationary contacts 15 and 15 t this time the following message circuit is momentarily closed :beginning at the positive terminal of the battery 20, wire 21, front contact 22 of the traclr relay T, Wire 23, contacts 15 A Wire 24;, message wire 25, contacts A15, Wire 26, winding of indicating relay IR, wire 27, contacts 28 of the relay R assuming its retracted position, wire 29, front contact 30 of the relay R wire 31, onehalf of the battery 32, common return wire C, and wire 33 back to the midpoint of battery 20.

It will be noted that the batteries 20 and 32 are connected in series in such a Way that their voltages oppose each other, so that no current flows in the circuit just traced and the indicating relay IR is not operated.

Let us now assume that a train moving along the track treads upon the track circuit containing the track relay T, and thereby shunts this track relay T, and causes it to assume its retracted position. Under this condition of the track relay T the following circuit for the indicating relay IR is closed :beginning at the middle connection of the battery 20, wire 33, common return wire C, the positive half of the battery 32, wire 31, contact 30 of the relay R wire 29, back contact 28 of the relay R Wire 27, winding of the indicating relay IR, wire 26, contacts A, wires and 24, contacts A 15 wire 23, contact 22 of the track relay T in its retracted position, and wire 34: connected to the negative terminal of the lower half of battery 20. It will be noted that the midpoint of battery 20 and the midpoint of the battery 32 are connected to the same wire, so that their voltages are accumulative if the remaining part of the circuit leads from the negative terminal of battery 20 and the positive terminal of battery 32, thereby causing current to flow through the indicating relay IR in a direction to operate it into its left-hand position.

Operation of the relay IR to its left-hand position illuminates the indicatin lamp I through the medium of closure of contact 35 of this relay IR. Also, this operation of the relay IE to its left-hand position causes the contact 36 to break the energizing circuit for the relay R thus de-energizing this relay IE and completes an energizing circuit for the relay R so that the circuit through the indicating relay IR- just traced is shifted to include the negative half of the battery 32, instead of the positive half of this battery. From this it readily appears that during subsequent closure (a-fter de-energization of relays R and energization of relay R of the modified message circuit, will cause no current flow in the message circuit because the batteries 20 and 32 will again oppose each other. This modified message circuit including opposing voltages may be traced as follows :beginning at the negative terminal of the battery 32, wire 37, front contact 28 of the relay R wire 2?, winding of the relay IR, wire 26, contacts 15 A, wires 25 and 24, contacts A l5 wire 23, contact- 22 of the track relay T in its retracted position, wire 34, negative half of the battery 20, wire 33., common return wire C connected to the midpoint of battery 32. It readily appears that the upper half of the battery 32 now opposes the lower half of the battery 20. so that no current will flow in the relay IR a id it will remain in its left-hand position.

Applicant has thus provided a system wherein the sources of current for transmit ting an indication function over'a message circuit are connected in series and are located respectively in the dispatchers ofiice and at a distant way station, so that each way station will require a battery of half the voltage that is required to transmit the same amount of current over the same circuit and indicating relay, the battery in the dispatchers othce being usable in connection with batteries at each of a large number of way stations, only one way station having been shown for convenience, so that quite a saving in batteries or other sources of direct current is made. The track relay T has its front contact40 similarly connected into a message circuit including the wire 41 at the dispatchers oflice, said wire 41 being connected to similar apparatus as is the wire 26 corresponding thereto, which apparatus has for convenience been omitted.

Attention is directed to the fact that each time the indicating relay IR is operated it reverses the polarity of the direct current source included in series in the message circuit at the dispatchers oflice. This has a further advantage in preventing current flow in the message circuit at all times except when the indicating relay is to be operated to the reverse position from which it assumes. This is not only economical as far as the electrical energy is concerned but prevents additional sparking at the contact arms A and A and prevents the wear that usually accompanies such sparking.

Having thus shown and described one rather specific embodiment of the present invention, it is desired to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of showing one application of the invention to facilitate describing the same, and it is to be understood that various changes, modifications, and additions may be made to adapt the invention to other uses and other synchronous selector systems such as systems of the stepping relay type, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention or the idea of means underlying the same, except as demanded by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as new is 1. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers ofiice and aplurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, and another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, whereby message current will flow if the voltages of the sources of current in a particular message circuit are cumulative.

2. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers oiriceand a plurality of way stations, ofa

source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at the Way station end of such message circuit, and traffic controlled means for closing said message circuit at a point distant to said dispatchers oflice.

3. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circults closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers office and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, and traffic controlled means at such way station for at times closing said message circuit.

4:. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers office and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers ofiice common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at theway station end of such message circuit, and traffic controlled means for at times including said another source of current in such message circuit so as to be pole-d in one direction and at other times so as to be poled in the other directlon.

5. In a train dispatching system of the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits close l sequentially and connecting a dispatchers oiiice and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, traffic controlled means at such way station for at times closing sa1 d message circuit, and means at the dispatcher s office for at times reversing the polarity of the source located at said dispatchers office in a particular message circuit.

6. In a train dispatching system of the sy nchrpnous selector type, the combination wit-h a plurality of message circuits closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers office and a plurality of Way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, of means for including in a particular message circuit a source of current of a particular polarity at a distant way station, and means for reversing the polarity of said source at the dispatchers office for said particular message circuit when the polarities of the two sources in said particular message circuit are cumulative, whereby said sources will thereafter oppose each other and result in the flow of very little current.

7 In a train dispatching system of: the synchronous selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed sequentially and connecting a dispatchers ofiice and a plurality of way stations, means at a distant way stationfor including in a particular message circuit a source of current ofa particular polarity under certain traffic conditions, and means at said dispatchers oflice for neutralizing the effect of said source.

8. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers oflice and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers ofiice common to all or" said message circuits, and another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, whereby message current will flow it the voltages of the sources of current in a particular message circuit are cumulative.

9. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers office and a plurality of Way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers oflice common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, and traffic controlled means for closing said message circuit at a point/distant to said dispatchers office. V

10. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers office and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, another source of currentin each of said message circuits at the Way station end of such message circuit, and trafiic controlled means at such way station for at times closing said message circuit.

11. In atrain dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers oiiice and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers ofiice common to all of said message circuit-s, another source of cur rent in each of'said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, and tra-fiic controlled means for at times includ ing said another source of current in such message circuit so as to be poled in one direction and at other times so as to be poled in the other direction.

12. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and ios connecting a dispatchers oflice and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, another source of current in each of said message circuits at the way station end of such message circuit, trafiic controlled means at such way station for at times closing said message circuit, and means at the dispatchers oflice for at times reversing the polarity of the source located at said dispatchers office in a particular message circuit.

13. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers oilice and a plurality of way stations, of a source of current in said dispatchers office common to all of said message circuits, of means forincluding in a particular message circuit a source of current of a particular polarity at a distant way station, ano means for reversing the po larity of said source at the dispatchers office for said particular message circuit when the polarities of the two sources in said particular message circuit are cumulative, whereby said sources will thereafter oppose each other and result in the flow of very little current.

14. In a train dispatching system of the selector type, the combination with a plurality of message circuits closed one at a time and connecting a dispatchers oflice and a plurality of way stations, means at a distant way station for including in a particular message circuit a source of current of a particular polarity under certain traflic conditions, and means at said dispatchers oflice for neutralizing the eifect of said source. 1

15. In combination, a distant way station on a railway system, a central oflice, a circuit connecting said oflice and way station, polar indicating means and a source of current included in series in said circuit and at said ofiice the polarity of said source being in a direction tending to operate said indicating means to the opposite position, means at said way station for including a source of current in said circuit of a polarity depending on trafiic conditions at said way station, whereby said indicating means is operated only if the voltages of the two sources are cumulative.

16. In combination, a distant way station on a railway system, a central ofiice, a circuit connecting said ofiice and way station, polar indicating means and a source of current included in series in said circuit and at said oflice the polarity of said source being in a direction tending to operate said indicating means to the opposite position, means operated by said indicating means to reverse the polarity of said source upon each reversal 01": said indicating means, means at said way station for including a source of current in said ROBERT M. PIIINNEY. 

